Apprentice hairdresser
ESSENCE HAIR LIMITED
Haywards Heath (RH16 3TH)
Closes on Tuesday 1 September 2026
Posted on 13 July 2026
Contents
Summary
If you'd like to work on a team who enjoy what they do every day then be part of Essence Hair to learn your craft in a Level 2 Hairdressing apprenticeship.
Depending on your choice of provider, either in salon training or visit an academy, whilst learning on the job in a nurturing salon team environment.
- Wage
-
£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Hairdressing professional (level 2)
- Hours
-
The salon working hours are Monday - Wednesday 9.30am - 5.30pm Thursday and Friday, either 9.30am or 10.30am start until 6.00pm or 8.00pm Saturday 8.00am - 4.30pm with 1 day off per week and 1 day off site training.
These days and times will be arranged on starting.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 2 September 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
As a hairdressing apprentice, you'll take on various roles and responsibilities within a salon setting, including:
- Assisting Senior Stylists: Supporting experienced hairdressers with client consultations, preparation, and during hair treatments and services
- Shampooing and Conditioning: Performing basic hair care tasks such as shampooing, conditioning, and scalp treatments for clients
- Styling Assistance: Assisting with blow-drying, curling, straightening, and styling clients' hair according to their preferences
- Color Mixing and Application: Helping to prepare hair dye formulations, applying color, highlights, and other treatments under supervision
- Cleaning and Maintenance: Ensuring salon cleanliness by tidying workstations, washing and sterilising tools, and maintaining a hygienic environment
- Client Interaction: Interacting with clients in a professional and courteous manner, providing assistance, answering questions, and scheduling appointments
- Product Sales: Recommending and selling hair care products to clients based on their needs and preferences
- Learning and Development: Actively participating in training sessions, workshops, and educational programmes to enhance skills and knowledge
- Health and Safety Compliance: Adhering to salon health and safety protocols, including proper handling of chemicals, maintaining cleanliness, and following safety guidelines
- Portfolio Building: Documenting your work, progress, and achievements through a portfolio of completed hairstyles, treatments, and client feedback
- By taking on these responsibilities, you'll gain valuable hands-on experience and develop the skills necessary for a successful career in hairdressing
Where you'll work
Essence Hair
25 The Orchards
Haywards Heath
RH16 3TH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CHEYNES TRAINING LIMITED
Training course
Hairdressing professional (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Adhere to legal and organisational requirements for the safe use of products, tools, materials and equipment.
- Apply safe, hygienic, and effective methods of working and infection control, while completing hairdressing services.
- Use communication and etiquette that meets industry requirements, suits and is appropriate to the organisation.
- Maintain the client’s confidentiality and comfort (modesty, privacy) at the start and during the service.
- Advise clients (new and regular) pre, during and after service on the maintenance of the look, complementary services and retail products available in the salon.
- Promote yourself, your organisation, products and services via a variety of social channels.
- Carry out wider salon duties to support the salon business (e.g. services, bookings, payments, retail, upselling and sales).
- Use a range of products, tools, equipment used in Hairdressing services in accordance with legal organisational requirements.
- Complete and maintain client records in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.
- Work as part of a team to support the salon businesses.
- Use working methods that promote environmental and sustainable working practices.
- Carry out a consultation, examine and analyse the hair, skin and scalp and complete relevant industry tests (e.g. hair classification type and characteristics tests).
- Identify (question/observation) any contraindications or limiting factors that are likely to affect or influence the service.
- Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp.
- Dry and finish hair using a range of techniques to create a range of looks, that meets the intended shape, direction, balance and volume agreed with the client.
- Use current setting and dressing techniques to create a range of looks that meets the intended shape, direction, balance, and volume agreed with the client.
- Cut hair using a range of technical skills and cutting techniques to create a range of looks, considering weight distribution, cutting angles, balance and degree of graduation, and the natural growth patterns of the hair, length of the hair ( club cutting, scissor over comb, clipper over comb, texturising, freehand, thinning, layering and razor cutting).
- Restyle hair to create a personalised short or medium (above the shoulder) length hair cut, changing the shape, length and style hair using a range of cutting techniques.
- Complete a range of hair colouring and lightening services to change the depth and tone using current colouring techniques (e.g. freehand techniques, woven highlights or lowlights, root re-touch, half head and full head application, temporary, semi-permanent, demi- permanent, quasi-permanent, permanent colour and lighteners).
- Evaluate the results of the service.
- Adhere to legal and organisational requirements for the safe use of products, tools, materials and equipment.
- Apply safe, hygienic, and effective methods of working and infection control, while completing hairdressing services.
- Use communication and etiquette that meets industry requirements, suits and is appropriate to the organisation.
- Maintain the client’s confidentiality and comfort (modesty, privacy) at the start and during the service.
- Advise clients (new and regular) pre, during and after service on the maintenance of the look, complementary services and retail products available in the salon.
- Promote yourself, your organisation, products and services via a variety of social channels.
- Carry out wider salon duties to support the salon business (e.g. services, bookings, payments, retail, upselling and sales).
- Use a range of products, tools, equipment used in Hairdressing services in accordance with legal organisational requirements.
- Complete and maintain client records in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.
- Work as part of a team to support the salon businesses.
- Use working methods that promote environmental and sustainable working practices.
- Carry out a consultation, examine and analyse the hair, skin and scalp and complete relevant industry tests (e.g. hair classification type and characteristics tests).
- Identify (question/observation) any contraindications or limiting factors that are likely to affect or influence the service.
- Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp.
- Dry and finish hair using a range of techniques to create a range of looks, that meets the intended shape, direction, balance and volume agreed with the client.
- Use current setting and dressing techniques to create a range of looks that meets the intended shape, direction, balance, and volume agreed with the client.
- Cut hair using a range of technical skills and cutting techniques to create a range of looks, considering weight distribution, cutting angles, balance and degree of graduation, and the natural growth patterns of the hair, length of the hair ( club cutting, scissor over comb, clipper over comb, texturising, freehand, thinning, layering and razor cutting).
- Restyle hair to create a personalised short or medium (above the shoulder) length hair cut, changing the shape, length and style hair using a range of cutting techniques.
- Complete a range of hair colouring and lightening services to change the depth and tone using current colouring techniques (e.g. freehand techniques, woven highlights or lowlights, root re-touch, half head and full head application, temporary, semi-permanent, demi- permanent, quasi-permanent, permanent colour and lighteners).
- Evaluate the results of the service.
Training schedule
In salon training is part of an apprenticeship, where you develop skills day to day. This would include a day a week at a training provider away from the salon, where they will structure your training to work through the apprenticeship.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Patience
- Kindness
About this employer
ESSENCE HAIR has traded for over 25 years and have generated numerous apprentices into a career in hairdressing. Essence Hair is a warm friendly salon that encourages staff to progress in there strengths and goals
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
There could be potential to continue into a level 3, continued development after completing the level 2 is essential to gain skills and grow as a stylist.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ESSENCE HAIR LIMITED
Katy
Info@essence-hair.co.uk
01444473333
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041316.
Apply now
Closes on Tuesday 1 September 2026